Bolton and England player Nat Lofthouse dies

Former England international Nat Lofthouse has died aged 85, his old club Bolton announced on their website on Sunday.

Lofthouse, who scored 30 goals in his 33 appearances for England, died peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in Bolton, northwest England, on Saturday night, the statement said.

He made more than 450 appearances for the Trotters, scoring 285 goals for the club between 1946 and 1960, and four years ago was voted Bolton's greatest ever player.

"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us," said club chairman Phil Gartside.

"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."

After he hung up his boots, Lofthouse held a number of off-field positions at Bolton including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, a position he held right up until his death.